SOVEREIGN SYNCHRONICITY

ACT 1: DESIGN

Let’s unpack the phrase “sovereign synchronicity.” It’s important to begin by defining the latter half of the phrase. “Synchronicity” is a coincidental occurrence of events that appear to be significantly related without a discernible cause or connection. Let’s keep the definition but replace the lack of casual connection with the ultimate intention of an all-knowing, all powerful, absolutely free, and wildly intimate sovereign, a.k.a, God Himself. It is from this perspective that we will view our lives in three discernible, but deeply mysterious ACTS. The implications of seeing the truth of God and His involvement in our lives are both fascinating and incomprehensible.

LET’S BEGIN WITH THE CONCEPT OF DESIGN:

In the Prologue post we looked at Acts 17:26-28, which states that God has already determined the exact boundaries of our pilgrimage. This was just to whet our appetites. Let us continue and explore Jeremiah 1:5-6, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Esther 4:14, and the massive soul-scape of Psalm 139, with emphasis on verse 16. This begins our wild ride; best bring your crash helmet!

Jeremiah was made aware that God already knew everything about him before he was conceived in the womb. Further, God had already established a purpose for him before birth. To this knowledge, Jeremiah’s responding exclamation of “My God” or “Sovereign Lord” displayed his inability to comprehend the intimacy of it all. Even the meaning of the name “Jeremiah” describes what is happening. It means “Jehovah hurls or throws;” “He appoints” or He launches us into a life that we can now embrace and explore.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 states that in creating us in His image, He has placed “eternity” into all of our hearts. He infused us with a mystery that we cannot fully fathom, but that drives and provokes our pursuit of God. And we see Him bring our lives into a beautiful completion in His own time.

In Esther 4:14, as also stated in Acts 17, we see how God brings us to the exact moment to have the optimum opportunity, influence, and impact – no matter what the seemingly unconnected circumstances may be.

Turning to the Mount Everest of passages, we see clearly that God has intimate and complete knowledge of us before conception.  We have arrived at Psalm 139.  Let’s first narrow the scope of the chapter, and then we’ll expand it.  We’ll save a serious look at verse 16 for last.

PSALM 139 CRYSTALIZED TO ITS CORE MEANING:

HE
KNOWS
ME
That’s INTIMACY

HE
PURSUES 

ME
That’s MERCY

HE
CRAFTED 
ME
That’s DIVERSITY

HE 
PROTECTS
ME
That’s SECURITY

HE 
EXAMINES 
ME
That’s MATURITY

PSALM 139 WITH EXPANDED WORD-MEANINGS:

O LORD, you have searched me (I have been explored with care and scrutinized in order to make a full and clear discovery.  You are fully acquainted with me).  You know me, having observed me with a purpose.  You have distinguished me as a unique individual.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you understand (perceive) my thoughts from far off.  You are involved in every action of mine, surrounding my path as I go out and come in.  You are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is in my mouth, O LORD, you know it completely.  You have hemmed me in behind and before and have laid your hand on me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is this astonishment that gives me  security and surety.  Still, it is too lofty for me to attain.

Sometimes I feel as though I need to escape, but where can I go to hide from your Spirit, or where can I run to flee from your presence?!  If I go up to heaven, “YOU!”  If I make my bed in the depths, “YOU!”  If I rise on the wings of the morning, and if I settle on the far side of the sea; even there your hand leads me, bringing me along gently and rhythmically.  And your right hand holds me fast…you seize me and bind me up close to yourself.  If I say, surely the darkness shall cover and hide me; even the night is light around me.  The darkness is not dark to you; the night shines as the day…both are alike to you.

You have maintained sovereign superintendence over my conception.  You have created my innermost being.  You possess me and have knit me together (as a fine tapestry) in my mother’s womb.  I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…unique and distinguished.  Your work concerning me is marvelous; I know that for sure!  My substance and make-up were not hid from you, even when I was conceived in secret.  I have been curiously created.  Your eyes saw my being, even in my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before any of them came to pass.  How precious are your thoughts toward me O God!  How vast is the sum of them…it is all too difficult, too heavy…they weigh upon me.  If I should count them, they outnumber the grains of the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you!

If only you would slay the wicked, O God.  Depart from me you bloodthirsty men.  They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name…they take it in vain.  I abhor them that hate you O LORD.  I am grieved with those who rise up against you.  I have nothing but contempt; I count them my enemies.  Search me, examine me, and explore me so as to make a complete and clear discovery.  Know my heart.  Try me, refine me, and prove me and know my thoughts absolutely.  And see if there is any wicked or offensive way in me.  Lead me in the everlasting way!

PSALM 139:16, A FOCUSED CONTEMPLATION:

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before any of them came to pass.”  If you really have a desire to discover how God made you and what He has designed you to be, it’s not a stretch to think that you would devote a lifetime to researching that in His Word.

MASSIVE AND MANIFOLD IMPLICATIONS OF THIS DISCOVERY OF DESIGN:

  • Even though it seems incomprehensible, everything about who we are is already in the intimate and infinite mind of God. This is the logical way to define when life begins. In essence, the origin of our being is established well before conception.
  • Everything about our identity is also identified long before conception.  This intricacy of our individual diversity is fascinating!
  • The pursuit of a lifetime is to enter this established mystery and to continue to discover your story as you live into the person, passions, and missions that God has ordained for you.
  • The seeking of any other perspective of life eventually leads to a desperate drive toward hopelessness.
  • We must begin and continue to think of God more nearly as He has revealed Himself to be. “What comes to our mind and heart when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” [Tozer]